Scot Stout
04-05-2007, 6:18 PM
hello. i'm new to this forum and have some questions regarding restoring a shellac finish.
i have a ca. 1930 mahogany bedroom suite with an alligatored shellac finish that i want to restore. a book i bought says to use denatured alcohol to dissolve the shellac. however, it doesn't go into enough detail. i brushed the alcohol onto one of the bed's siderails and the finish dissolved beautifully. however, when it dried there were areas with peaks and runs, even though the wood was flat. did i use too much or too little alcohol? should i remove some of the finish while it's still dissolved? how do i restore the old finish while keeping it smooth?
i must say that the beauty of the mahogany was immediately apparent as soon as i brushed on the alcohol. now i'm motivated to do the entire suite!
i have a ca. 1930 mahogany bedroom suite with an alligatored shellac finish that i want to restore. a book i bought says to use denatured alcohol to dissolve the shellac. however, it doesn't go into enough detail. i brushed the alcohol onto one of the bed's siderails and the finish dissolved beautifully. however, when it dried there were areas with peaks and runs, even though the wood was flat. did i use too much or too little alcohol? should i remove some of the finish while it's still dissolved? how do i restore the old finish while keeping it smooth?
i must say that the beauty of the mahogany was immediately apparent as soon as i brushed on the alcohol. now i'm motivated to do the entire suite!